alchemy

noun

Definition of alchemynext
1
as in occultism
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means … an alchemy that changed metals rarer than gold into elements more baneful than lead.—James Gleick

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2
as in magic
the power to do something impressive in a way that seems mysterious or supernatural They marveled at the digital alchemy that turns lines of computer code into a beautiful user interface.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alchemy What created the album’s alchemy is more obvious in retrospect. — Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 For Henderson, the actual act of taking off and landing in an airplane feels like a special kind of alchemy. — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Examples include words like alcohol, alkali, alchemy, and in astronomy, star names such as Altair, Alkaid, Alcor and Aldebaran. — Scott Neuman, NPR, 11 June 2026 Building a champion is a work of alchemy, and chemistry matters. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alchemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alchemy
  1. occultism
  2. magic
  3. sorcery
  4. witchcraft
  5. wizardry
Noun
  • In one example, some teachers are let into the fictional realm of Agartha, which is a key setting in neo-Nazi occultism where everyone is white and blond.
    — Owen Carry, Wired News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The transformation of Tarocchi into a divinatory tool began in the late 18th century, driven by the rise of occultism in France.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of occultism
Noun
  • Caribenya’s magic, and Pimienta’s real achievement, is a record that beautifully slips through your fingers.
    — Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
  • The fourth star and a fairytale send off for Lionel Messi earned through lots of grit, fighting spirit and a bit of magic evaporated into the East Rutherford, New Jersey, air.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of magic
Noun
  • These are some of man's most sorcery-like achievements, providing materials with excellent engineering properties.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • Come to Eternia, the mythical home of flying dragon-like creatures, and swords, and sorcery, and spaceships — really, all the stuff a 12-year-old science fiction fanatic loves.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026
Definition of sorcery
Noun
  • Helen’s famous face has been disfigured, presumably by her angry husband, Menelaus; the sorceress Circe uses her witchcraft in self-defense, seemingly as a result of traumatic encounters with men.
    — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • The film also stars Anne Hathaway as Odysseus’ wife, Penelope; Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus; Pattinson as the Ithacan suitor, Antinous; Zendaya as goddess of wisdom, Athena; and Charlize Theron as goddess of witchcraft, Circe.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of witchcraft
Noun
  • Thanks to the technical wizardry of generative AI, the videos feature photorealistic digital doppelgängers of Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker and Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia, complete with pitch-perfect recreations of their voices.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • With some mathematical wizardry, the researchers described a periodic surface whose elements capture discrete components of polarized wavefronts.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2026
Definition of wizardry

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alchemizing
alchemy
alcohol
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Cite this Entry

“Alchemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alchemy. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alchemy

Nglish: Translation of alchemy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alchemy

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